Method for receiving inputs from user of electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method of receiving inputs by an electronic device comprising a user interface component is disclosed. The user interface component is set in an inactive operating mode, such as a keypad locking mode or a screen saver mode, for substantially non-active usage of the user interface component. An input is received in the inactive mode. The input received in the inactive operating mode may be stored and presented on a user interface component.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a solution for receiving inputs from a user ofan electronic device, and more particularly to receiving inputs when auser interface component of an electronic device is in an inactive mode,for instance a screen saver functionality is active or a keypad lock ison.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various screen saver applications are well known for use in conventionalcomputers. These screen savers are typically activated after apredetermined idle period and serve to save power and to avoid burn-inwhen CRT screens are used.

Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones and PDA (PersonalDigital Assistant) devices, have also been provided with screen saverapplications, which enables battery power to be saved. For instance,current time is shown in the screen saver mode. U.S. patent applicationpublication US 2003/0169306 discloses a more sophisticated screen saverin which handles for different applications may be displayed in thescreen saver mode. If the user selects the handle, the respectiveapplication is executed in the screen saver mode, the applicationcreating images shown on the screen. For instance, in the screen savermode the user may select a handle to a weather application, wherebyweather information is shown on the screen.

A keypad lock is another exemplary user interface mode for inactive use,typically enabling unwanted keypad inputs in portable devices to beavoided. The keypad lock may be activated automatically or by the user,and may be applied simultaneously with the screen saver facility.

The user may face sudden situations in which a need arises to makenotes. However, it is not always so easy to make notes quickly.Typically, when a user wishes to make notes, he/she needs to exit thescreen saver mode and/or keypad lock by a keystroke, go to menu, selectthe appropriate application (e.g. a notepad), and activate theapplication. Only after the application has been activated, can the usermake the notes. Especially when the user is moving, this procedure isnot very user-friendly or quick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is thus to provide a method and an apparatusimplementing the method so as to enable the above-mentioned problems tobe avoided or at least alleviated. The object of the invention isachieved by a method, a portable electronic device, a computer programand a computer program product which are characterized by what has beendisclosed in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the inventionare disclosed in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, an electronic device comprisinga user interface component and means for setting the user interfacecomponent in an inactive operating mode to be applied during non-activeor limited usage of the user interface component is configured to storean input in an inactive operating mode, such as a keypad locking mode ora screen saver mode. The device is further configured to perform anaction for the stored input.

The term “inactive operating mode” generally refers to any mode intendedfor non-active or limited usage of one or more user interfacecomponents, for instance screen saver mode or keypad lock mode. Anadvantage of the arrangement of the invention is that notes may be madequickly and easily although the user interface component of the deviceis in an inactive mode. There is no need to exit the inactive mode by akeystroke, go to menu, select the appropriate application (e.g. anotepad), and activate the appropriate application before being able tomake notes, but notes may be made quickly during the inactive mode. Thisimproves the usability of portable electronic devices. Besides storing,further actions, during the inactive mode or after exiting the inactivemode, may be performed on the input. For instance, the input may beforwarded to another device or application. According to an embodimentof the invention, the device is configured to present the input receivedduring the inactive operating mode in a user interface component.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an application isactivated to which data representing an input received in the inactivemode is then fed. This embodiment enables automatic processing of theinput by the application, and it is possible to arrange different typesof information to be inputted in the inactive mode. Alternatively, onlyan application specific input may be arranged in the inactive mode.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an input area is arrangedon the screen when the user interface component is set to inactiveoperating mode. Inputs from the user to the input area are then receivedand stored. This embodiment enables one portion of the screen to be usedfor inputs, and other parts of the screen may be used for a screen saverfacility, for instance.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a device is configuredto receive an input, trigger the arrangement of the input receptionmeans, or detect an input as an appropriate input in the inactiveoperating mode if a predetermined activation input has been receivedfrom the user when the device is in the inactive operating mode. Thisembodiment enables unwanted inputs to be avoided or at least reduced,for instance when the device is in the user's pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described in closer detail in connection with someembodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating some parts of a portableelectronic device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a screen view according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a method according to an embodiment,and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a method according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an electronic device ED comprises a memoryMEM, a user interface, means I/O for arranging data transfer, and aprocessing unit PU comprising one or more processors. The user interfaceof the ED comprises at least a screen SC and in this embodiment also akeypad KP. Various applications APP may be implemented in the electronicdevice ED by executing, in the PU, a computer program code stored in thememory MEM.

In one embodiment, data may be transmitted to/from the electronic deviceED, for instance wirelessly. Conventional transceivers and functionalityfor communicating with a network and/or other mobile terminals may beincluded in the electronic device ED. For instance, the electronicdevice ED may support GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications),GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), 3GPP (3^(rd) Generation PartnershipProject), WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and/or Bluetooth standards.The electronic device ED may be a data processing device, such as alaptop, a desktop computer, a PDA device, a mobile station, a mediadevice such as the Nokia 7700, or a removable/portable module for someof the above-mentioned devices.

A screen saver functionality may be arranged in the electronic device EDby a screen saver program code executed in the processing unit PU, suchscreen saver facility being represented in FIG. 1 by reference SCS. Whenthe screen saver SCS is activated, the screen SC is set to an inactiveoperating mode in which a screen saver icon is displayed, for instance.The device ED of FIG. 1 also comprises a keypad (KP) lock facilityrepresented by reference KPL. The activation of the keypad lock KPLcauses the keypad to be set into such an inactive operating mode inwhich only a very limited number of inputs (for instance for initiatingan emergency call and for unlocking the keypad) is accepted in order toavoid unwanted keypad inputs during non-active use of the device. It isto be noted that the keypad lock, depending of the device type, may locka physical keypad or a keypad arranged in a touch screen of anelectronic device.

Computer program codes executed in the central processing unit PU maycorrespondingly enable the electronic device ED also to implement theinventive means relating to receiving inputs from the user while a userinterface component is in an inactive mode, for instance when the screensaver SCS is active and/or while the keypad lock is on. Some embodimentsof such means are illustrated in connection with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Thecomputer program may be stored in a memory, e.g. on a hard disk of a PCor on a CD-ROM disc wherefrom it may be downloaded into the memory MEMof the electronic device ED executing the program. The computer programmay also be downloaded via a network by using e.g. a TCP/IP protocolstack. The computer program may be a specific application for providingthe inventive means and/or part of a software package comprisingsoftware also for other purposes. For instance, the software enablinguser inputs during a screen saver mode as illustrated in FIG. 3 may bepart of screen saver software downloadable to the electronic device ED.In another example, the inputs during the inactive mode are processed bya specific application which stores the inputs and/or forwards them toother applications. It is also feasible to use hardware solutions or acombination of hardware and software solutions to implement theinventive means.

In one embodiment, the screen SC of the device ED is a touch screen. Thepresent method can be applied in connection with substantially all touchscreen types, but the touch screen type used per se is irrelevant to theimplementation of the invention. The implementation of a touch screenmay be based on one of the following techniques, for instance:electrical methods, a technology based on infrared light, a technologybased on sound waves or pressure recognition. Some touch screen typesrequire a stylus with integrated electronics, such as a resonancecircuit. The operation of such a screen requires a stylus to be used,and the screen cannot be used by pointing with a finger, for instance.This kind of screen type also allows a virtual stylus to be used.

FIG. 2 illustrates a screen view of an electronic device ED according toan embodiment in which a user input area 200 is arranged in the screenSC when at least one user interface component of the device ED is set toan inactive operating mode. In the example of FIG. 2, the input area 200is limited by the dashed line, and an input made to the area 200 isdetected even though the screen saver SCS and/or the keypad lock KPL,for instance, are/is active. Touch inputs to the input area 200 may bedetected by touch sensitive elements in the screen SC, converted to anappropriate electronic format and displayed on the screen SC. The inputarea 200 for inputs in the inactive operating mode may be arranged suchthat only those input detection elements that reside in the area 200 areactive and/or inputs from these elements are only accepted as validinput. If the screen saver SCS is activated, the screen saver SCS inthis example only displays a block 201 showing time, the block 201 beingarranged to change its place on the screen SC. In one embodiment, themovement of a screen saver object, such as the block 201, is arrangedsuch that the object does not appear in the input area 200. However, itis to be noted that the input area 200 may cover the whole screen area.In such a case, any screen saver objects could move around the inputarea. It is also possible that multiple input areas 200 are arranged.

In the example of FIG. 2, the user has made notes to the input area 200by a stylus. Based on the detected touching points of the stylus to theinput area 200, the input area 200 has been refreshed to show themovements of the stylus. The user can thus make notes very quicklydirectly to the screen SC. The notes made by the user may be stored andfurther processed, as will be illustrated by embodiments below.

In an alternative embodiment, a cursor is arranged on the screen (SC).The device ED is then configured to determine the inputs in the inputarea 200 on the basis of the detected movements of the cursor. Thecursor may be controlled by a conventional keypad KP or a specificcontrol means, such as a track ball, for instance.

According to yet another embodiment, the inputs during the inactive modeare received by a conventional keypad (KP). The input area 200 may alsobe used and used as default for keypad inputs, or the input area 200could be selected by a specific keystroke or cursor positioning, forinstance. Thus, the invention may also be applied in devices having notouchscreen.

According to some embodiments, a predetermined activation input may berequired from the user in order to enter an input (to the input area 200or another input means arranged during the inactive mode) to triggerestablishment of the input area 200 in the data processing device ED,and/or to detect an input as an appropriate input when in the inactivemode. This embodiment may be applied with some or all of theabove-illustrated input methods. The input could be a simultaneous keypress when making notes to the input area, for instance. Thus, inputscan be made if the specific key is pushed at the same time. In analternative embodiment, a specific key combination has to be pushedbefore inputs can be made in the screen saver mode. In anotherembodiment, a stylus storage/fastening means on the data processingdevice ED are equipped with a sensor detecting removal of the stylus. Asensor may be connected to the present functionality such that theremoval of the stylus is detected as an activation input. For instance,the input area 200 is automatically established after the stylus isremoved from the storage position. In another embodiment, the requiredactivation input could be a push of a track ball (moving the cursor) ina particular position or a push of an additional key. These embodimentsenable unnecessary inputs caused by unwanted keys strokes or by otherkinds of input methods to be avoided or reduced. The application of apredetermined activation input is especially useful in combination witha keypad input since easily occurring unwanted keypad inputs may then beavoided or at least reduced.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method according to an embodiment. The method isimplemented by the data processing device ED, in one embodiment thesteps of FIG. 3 are controlled by the screen saver SCS functionality. Instep 301, the screen saver (SCS) is activated based on a screen saverinitiation trigger, which could be a predetermined idle period after thelast input from the user. An input area (200) is arranged on the screen(SC) in step 302. The data processing device ED is in steps 303, 304configured to receive any inputs from the user. The process may activelycontinuously check whether any input is received (303, 304) or passivelyact (enter step 305) when an input is received from input detectionmeans, such as touch screen means.

When an input is received, it is determined 305 whether the input is fordeactivating the screen saver (SCS). If so, the screen saver isdeactivated 306 and the current screen saver mode specific process mayend. In one embodiment, a specific key or key combination ispredetermined as the trigger for deactivating the screen saver. Thus,the device is configured to check in step 305 whether the input from theuser matches the trigger. If the input matches the trigger, the deviceis configured to deactivate the screen saver and to remove the inputarea (200).

If the input is not for deactivating the screen saver, the device isconfigured to store the data representing the input and/or to display307 the input. It is to be noted that instead of or in addition to thestep of displaying the input, other actions may be performed for theinput, as will be illustrated below. After step 307, the process mayreturn to step 303 to detect new inputs.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a method according to anotherembodiment. The method of FIG. 4 may be applied when a keypad lock (KPL)is activated 401, based on an input from the user or automatically.Similarly to that shown in FIG. 3, an input area is arranged 402 andinputs monitored 403. If an input is for removing the keypad lock, thekeypad lock is removed 405. Otherwise the input may be stored and/ordisplayed in step 407 to the user.

As already mentioned, a predetermined activation input may also berequired in the embodiment for a keypad lock (KPL). In one embodiment, aspecific key needs to be pushed during input in order to enter an input,to trigger establishment of the input area 200 in the data processingdevice ED, and/or to detect an input as an appropriate input. In anotherembodiment, a specific activation area on the screen SC needs to beselected (for instance a small icon needs to be contacted by the stylus)in order to establish the input area 200. Further, the time forsupplying the inputs after the activation of the input area 200 may belimited.

It is to be noted that the methods in FIGS. 3 and 4 may also be utilizedsimultaneously. For instance, when either the keypad lock or the screensaver mode is set, an input area is arranged, and no other input area isneeded if the other is also activated later. The methods in FIGS. 3 and4 are only some examples of arranging the inventive functionality. Forinstance, in an alternative method, only the inputs to the input area(200) are monitored and the detection of the screen saver deactivationand/or keypad lock removal input is a separate process to be executed bythe screen saver (SCS). Thus, the input detection in the input area maybe carried out by some entity other than the screen saver SCS.

As already mentioned, instead of the input area (200), the inputs duringthe inactive mode may be arranged by some other input method. Forinstance, voice recognition or a touch screen/keypad input without anyinput area 200 could be used.

In another embodiment, the input area (200) is removed, eitherautomatically or on the basis of a user input. This may be carried outafter step 307/407 or when a predetermined time period has elapsed afterthe activation of the input area 200, for instance. Further, thisfeature may be provided such that the inactive operating mode may stillbe continued. In an embodiment, a selectable icon or another type ofinput means is arranged in the data processing device ED for removingthe input area (200) and returning to the basic screen saver modewithout any input possibility. This further enables unwanted inputs tothe input area to be avoided after the appropriate input has beencreated and/or stored. Further, as noted above, the input area 200 maybe arranged on the basis of a predetermined key combination or anotherspecific input from the user for triggering the establishment of theinput area 200. Thus, after an appropriate input from the user, step 302may be entered again. In a further alternative embodiment, also thescreen saver is deactivated and/or the keypad lock is removed after step307/407.

In the following, some embodiments will be illustrated, the features ofwhich may be implemented instead of or in addition to step 307 in FIG.3.

According to an embodiment, the data processing device ED is configuredto prompt the user for one or more further actions regarding the input.This feature may be carried out immediately after detecting the input orafter the inactive operating mode is exited (after step 306/406), forinstance. In the first case, the inactive operating mode may becontinued after an input has been received from the user and the one ormore further actions have been carried out. For instance, the user maybe requested to confirm the storage of the input and to select a storageposition and a file name for the input. For this, a file folder view maybe displayed for the user. In accordance with a received user input, theinput is then stored (or not stored if the user input indicates this).It is to be noted that the input may be stored temporarily in step 307or 407, and when the screen saver is deactivated 306 or the keypad lockis removed 406, the user may be prompted for the final storage of theinput.

In an embodiment, the user is prompted to select an application and/or afile format for the input. The application and/or file type/format isthen selected for the input in accordance with an input from the user.For instance, the user may determine that the input is a calendar entry,a note or an alarm. The input may then be stored in accordance with theselected format. It is possible thus to define the format of the inputwithout necessarily activating the application already immediately afterthe deactivation of the screen saver mode or during the screen savermode (for instance in step 307).

According to an embodiment, the data processing device ED is configuredto activate an application (APP) for which the inputs in the inactivemode are submitted. The application to be activated may be selected onthe basis of a user input as illustrated above, or in an automaticmanner based on one or more properties of the input. This applicationmay then process the data representing the input as appropriate, forinstance display it (possibly in an application specific view), storeit, and/or further process it in an application specific way. In oneembodiment, the application is activated after the screen saver mode isdeactivated 306 and/or after a keypad lock is removed 406, whereby theusage of the data processing device ED resources can be minimized whenthe data processing device ED is not actively used. The input may thenbe displayed when the active usage mode begins and the user may thenreturn to his/her notes and further process them, for instance. It ispossible to prompt the user for confirmation before activating theapplication for the input.

In a further embodiment, the device ED is configured to determine thetype of the input received during the inactive mode. On the basis of thedetected type or format of the input, the device ED is configured toselect an appropriate application (APP) for processing the input. Thedevice may be configured to activate the selected application and/orsubmit the data representing the input to the selected application. Thisembodiment enables multiple applications (APP) to which the input may betargeted, and the appropriate application may be automatically activatedwithout any user input for selecting the application. According toanother embodiment, the storage format may be defined (for instance instep 307/407) on the basis of the determination of the type or format ofthe input.

According to one embodiment, the input area 200 is anapplication-specific view. The input area may be arranged for enteringdata for at least one of the following applications: a word processingapplication, a phonebook or another contact management application, anotepad application, a calendar application, a messaging application, adrawing application, or a spreadsheet application. The respectiveapplication may be actively executed when in a screen saver mode,activated upon an input to the input area, or inputs may be buffered andsubmitted to the application when it is later activated, for instancewhen the screen saver is deactivated. The device ED may be configured toreceive inputs for at least one of the above-mentioned applications bysome alternative input method not involving the input area 200.

According to another embodiment, the device ED comprises a textrecognition application and is configured to submit the input to thetext recognition application for determining the text data representingthe input. This embodiment thus enables free-form entries in theinactive mode to be converted to complete text for a text-processingapplication. Further, the recognized text could then be displayed in theapplication view and stored as a text document, even automatically. Inanother embodiment, instructions from the user for controlling one ormore of the functions of the data processing device may be carried outbased on the detected text format. For instance, if an inputrepresenting command “STORE” is detected, the device activates storageof the input in the input area associated with the detected storecommand.

According to yet another embodiment, the input is submitted to at leastone external device such as a network element. The input may thus betransmitted using a transmitter of the electronic device ED. Forinstance, the input may be submitted by a short range data transmissiontechnique to local device(s). Alternatively, an appropriate message maybe formed for the input for transmission to a mobile network such as onein accordance with the 3GPP system. For instance, the input may beincluded in a short message sent to a short message center.

In a further embodiment the input is submitted to a network elementperforming some further action for the input. The input may then bestored in the network and/or used for some service by the network.

In one embodiment the data processing device comprises a client formobile instant messaging and presence service (IMPS). The input may besubmitted to the client which then arranges the transmission of theinput by a IMPS specific message to a IMPS server. In some alternativesolutions the input area 200 is for entering inputs to the IMPS, or anIMPS application is activated in the ED on the basis of predeterminedactivation input. The IMPS server may store the input in the dataprocessing device's information and possibly submit this information toother IMPS clients (authorized to receive IMPS information of the dataprocessing device ED) as presence information or as an instant message.More information on one feasible IMPS solution is available at the OMA(Open Mobile Alliance) WWW site (www.openmobilealliance.org). It is tobe noted that the ED may be arranged to support only a presence or aninstant messaging application instead of both of them. This embodimentenables the user of the data processing device ED to easily specifypersonal presence information for an interest group even when the deviceED is in an inactive mode. For instance, when the keypad lock is active,the user could still quickly input words “In meeting” and activatetransmission of this message to the IMPS system, which thenautomatically distributes this information to his friends. In anotherexample the user could easily change his or her status in the IMPSsystem by selecting another status via the user interface of the EDalthough the screen saver SCS would be activated in the ED.

It should be appreciated that the above-illustrated embodiment may becombined in various ways. It is obvious to one skilled in the art thatas technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may beimplemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodimentsare thus not restricted to the above examples but may vary within thescope of the claims. Different features may thus be omitted, modified orreplaced by equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising a userinterface component and a processing unit configured to set the userinterface component in an inactive operating mode to be applied duringnon-active or limited usage of the user interface component, wherein theelectronic device is configured to detect a user input on a touch screenduring the inactive mode, the device is configured to store the userinput during the inactive operating mode, the device is configured toactivate an application for processing the stored user input afterexiting the inactive operating mode, the device is configured to submitthe user input for the application, and the device is configured toprompt the user for a further action after exiting the inactiveoperating mode.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device isconfigured to determine the type of the input in the input area.
 3. Adevice according to claim 2, wherein the device is configured to selectan appropriate application for processing the input on the basis of thedetected type of the input, and the device is configured to activate theselected application and/or submit the data representing the input tothe selected application.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice in the inactive operating mode is configured to receive data forat least one of the following: a word processing application, aphonebook or another contact management application, a notepadapplication, a calendar application, a messaging application, a drawingapplication, or a spreadsheet application.
 5. A device according toclaim 1, wherein the device comprises a screen and a screen saverfacility, wherein the device comprises a processing unit configured toset the screen in the inactive operating mode when the screen saver isactivated.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the devicecomprises a keypad and a keypad locking facility, and the devicecomprises means to set the keypad in the inactive operating mode whenthe keypad lock is activated.
 7. A device according to claim 1, whereinthe device is configured to receive an input, trigger an arrangement ofthe input reception means, or detect an input as an appropriate input inthe inactive operating mode if a predetermined activation input has beenreceived from the user when the device is in the inactive operatingmode.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configuredto continue in the inactive operating mode after storing the input.
 9. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to detectinput of a predetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.10. A method for receiving inputs by an electronic device comprising auser interface component, the method comprising: setting the userinterface component in an inactive operating mode for non-active orlimited usage of the user interface component, detecting a user input ona touch screen in the inactive mode, storing the user input during theinactive operating mode, activating an application for processing thestored user input after exiting the inactive operating mode, submittingthe user input for the application, and prompting the user for a furtheraction after exiting the inactive operating mode.
 11. A method accordingto claim 10, wherein the input is presented in a user interfacecomponent of the electronic device.
 12. A method according to claim 10,wherein the touch screen is set in the inactive operating mode when ascreen saver is activated, and receiving the input when the screen saveris active.
 13. A method according to claim 10, wherein a keypad is setin the inactive operating mode when a keypad lock is activated, andreceiving the input when the keypad lock is activated.
 14. A methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising: detecting input of apredetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.
 15. Acomputer program product embodied on a computer readable non-transitorymedium comprising computer program code downloadable into a memory of adata processing device comprising a user interface component and meansfor setting the user interface component in an inactive operating modeand executable in a processor of the data processing device, thecomputer program product comprising: a program code part for controllingthe data processing device to store a user input during the inactiveoperating mode, a program code part for controlling the data processingdevice to activate an application for processing the stored user inputafter exiting the inactive operating mode, a program code part forcontrolling the data processing device to submit the user input for theapplication, and a program code part for controlling the data processingdevice to prompt the user for a further action after exiting theinactive operating mode.
 16. A computer program product non-transitorymedium comprising computer program code according to claim 15, furthercomprising a program code part for activating an application to whichdata representing the input in the input area is fed.
 17. A computerprogram product non-transitory medium comprising computer program codeaccording to claim 15, further comprising: a program code part forcontrolling the data processing device to detect input of apredetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.
 18. Anapparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory unit communicativelyconnected to the processor and including: computer code for controllinga data processing device to store a user input during an inactiveoperating mode, computer code for controlling the data processing deviceto activate an application for processing the stored user input afterexiting the inactive operating mode, computer code for controlling thedata processing device to submit the user input for the application, andcomputer code for controlling the data processing device to prompt theuser for a further action after exiting the inactive operating mode. 19.An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processor is configuredto present the input in a user interface component of the apparatus. 20.An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the apparatus is a mobilecommunications device.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 18, whereinthe apparatus is a module for a mobile station.
 22. An apparatusaccording to claim 18, wherein the memory unit further includes:computer code for controlling the data processing device to detect inputof a predetermined activation to allow receipt of the user input.